Mastering Skills: Phases of Learning & Effective Practice Methods

2. 3 - LEARNING KNAPP, SINGER DEFINITION 4 - PHASES or STAGES OF LEARNING (FITTS & POSNER) 5 - PHASES OF LEARNING 8 - GUIDANCE 14 - PRACTICE METHODS 19 - MENTAL PRACTICE 21 - KEY FEATURES OF PRACTICE SESSIONS 22 - PRACTICE METHODS CHOICE OF METHOD INDEX

3. LEARNING KNAPP’s DEFINITION • learning may be considered to be a more or less permanent change in performance, associated with experiences but excluding changes which occur through maturation and degeneration, or through alterations in the receptor or effector organs SINGER’s DEFINITION • performance may be thought of as a temporary occurrence, fluctuating from time to time because of many potentially operating variables • we usually use performance to represent the amount of learning that has occurred • for the process of learning must be inferred on the basis of observations of change in performance

4. PHASES OF LEARNING (Fitts and Posner)

5. PHASES OF LEARNING COGNITIVE (EARLY) PHASE • skill learning goals are set and learning is begun • trial and error methods used • improvement is rapid, but movements are jerky and uncoordinated • use of models and an initial look attechniques • demands high attention and concentration

6. PHASES OF LEARNING ASSOCIATIVE (INTERMEDIATE) PHASE • specific motor programmes and subroutines are developed relevant to sport • consistencyandcoordination improve rapidly, timing and anticipation improve • comparison of action with model • gross error detectionandcorrection is practised, detailed feedback is utilised • improvement is less rapid

7. PHASES OF LEARNING AUTONOMOUS (FINAL) PHASE • performance almost automatic (without conscious control), performed easily without stress • high proficiency with habitual performance and attention demands reduced • attention can be given to relevant cues and signals from the environment • emphasis on tactics or strategy • errors detected and correctedwithout help

8. GUIDANCE

9. GUIDANCE VISUAL GUIDANCE • mainly through demonstration • very important in the cognitive early phase of learning • a performer would learn by watching and imitating a model DEMONSTRATIONS • by video or poster • by human live model • by demonstration of techniques by a coach or teacher • should be realistic or appropriate or not too complex • should emphasise relevant aspects of a skill • should be repeated

10. GUIDANCE VISUAL GUIDANCE continued MODELS • should be of high status • should be technically competent or correct THE LEARNER • should be attentive or retentive • should be capable of matching the demonstration (performer at the appropriate level of learning) THE COACH • should reinforce correct copying of skills

11. GUIDANCE VERBAL GUIDANCE • often to accompany visual guidance • used more with competent performers at a later phase of learning • the amount of verbal guidance must be controlled • the quality of this guidance important for effective coaching or teaching • can be used for conditioning a response (giving reinforcement)

12. GUIDANCE MANUAL GUIDANCE • use of physical support (as in gymnast performing somersaults) • or placing limbs in correct positions (as for a novice thrower) • this helps with kinaesthetic awareness • useful for giving confidence, particularly for beginners • useful for safety reasons

13. GUIDANCE MECHANICAL GUIDANCE • using a mechanical aid (stabilisers on a bike, flotation devices for swimming, belay ropes for climbers, somersault rig for trampolinists) • gives confidence and ensures safety • gives some idea of kinaesthetic sense of movement • not to be overdone because this form of kinaesthesis is not the same as the real thing, the performer can become over-reliant

14. PRACTICE METHODS PRACTICE CONDITIONS • different ways of setting up training sessions to achieve optimum performance

15. PRACTICE METHODS VARIABLE PRACTICE • in this method practice conditions are varied to encourage the formation of schema • (see section 4 for a full description of schema and how they are formed) • practice conditions should be as realistic as possible • in as many different situations as possible • as near to the competitive or match situation as possible • relevant to open skills

16. PRACTICE METHODS MASSED PRACTICE • practice is done with no rest intervals with sessions long in duration • good for ‘grooving’ of skills and to encourage an habitual response • good for discrete skills of short duration • can lead to fatigue and boredom • there may be elements of negative transfer

17. PRACTICE METHODS DISTRIBUTED PRACTICE • training sessions which include rest intervals which could involve mental practice • good for the beginner and most skill learning • gives time to recover physically and mentally • good for potentially dangerous situations

18. PRACTICE METHODS OVERLEARNING • this involves a learned skill that is habitual because of many repetitions • motor programmes or schema are formed and performed ‘automatically’ • in response to a game or sporting situation (stimulus) • this means that attention can be directedperipherally • to other elements of a game (tactics or strategy)

19. MENTAL PRACTICE or REHEARSAL MENTAL PRACTICE • the mental or cognitive rehearsal of a skillwithout actual physical movement • used by most top level sportsmen to visualise a skill or movement • often prompted by tape or film or talk from a coach HOW IS IT USED? • used to review good practice and compare with poor practice (failure) • used to rehearse the ‘feel’ of a skill before action • used in dangerous situations to avoid risk • used to focus and direct attention

20. MENTAL PRACTICE

21. KEY FEATURES OF PRACTICE SESSIONS

22. PRACTICE METHODS CHOICE OF METHOD • maximise effectiveness taking into account: • different levels of ability • the activities or sport undertaken • skill classification • the schema development for the activity